Heavy gunfire was heard on Wednesday night near the Presidential Palace in Chad’s capital, Yamena, although the Minister of Foreign Affairs and government spokesperson, Abderaman Koulamallah, assured that “the situation is under control” after a “failed attempt at destabilization.”

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“I am currently at the Presidency of the Republic where the situation is completely neutralized. There is no fear, nothing serious. The situation is under control,” Koulamallah stated in a video posted on his Facebook page, flanked by heavily armed soldiers.

According to a security source cited by the local newspaper Alwhida Info, armed individuals attacked the presidential palace, although the minister did not provide further details. Videos filmed and shared by soldiers from the presidential guard shortly after the clashes show the bodies of attackers killed within the premises of the presidential palace.

According to the news portal Tchad 24, citing sources from the National Security Agency (ANSE), these individuals are believed to be members of the Nigerian jihadist group Boko Haram, which occasionally carries out attacks in Chad’s Lake Chad region (west) bordering Nigeria; however, this has not yet been confirmed by authorities.

“We cannot tell you anything at this moment. But the situation is completely under control. We are waiting for the public prosecutor to come and show you the reality of what happened,” insisted the Foreign Minister, who appeared dressed in a shirt, beige pants, and with a pistol at his side.

“It was a small incident that occurred and I will return (…) later tonight to tell you what happened. I am currently at the Presidency of the Republic. As you can see, there is absolutely nothing; everything is calm. I want you to be reassured. We are here and we will defend our country at all costs,” he asserted.

“The defense and security forces are mobilized and everything has been eradicated. This entire attempt at destabilization has been eradicated. Stand with me, stay strong, and I will return with more details,” added the head of diplomacy.

The government spokesperson did not clarify whether Chad’s President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno was present in the palace during the incident.

The event occurred hours after Déby Itno received Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the palace, who arrived in Chad from the Republic of Congo as part of his tour of Africa this week. Wang also met with his Chadian counterpart, who welcomed him at Yamena’s Hassan Djamous International Airport.

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